Hilcorp Energy settles suit with oystermen over unauthorized dredging through wetlands
The Louisiana Oystermen Association and Hilcorp Energy Company filed a consent judgment that, if approved by the court, will settle the association’s lawsuit against Hicorp for dredging in the coastal zone without a permit, according to a news release. The Texas-based oil and gas exploration company has agreed to pay $920,000 toward development of an alternative oyster fishing method, mitigation, monitoring and restoration.
The suit alleged that in 2016 the company “prop washed” channels through Barataria Bay in attempts to access well sites near Port Sulphur. Prop washing, also called wheel washing, is the process of using a boat’s propellers to eat into water bottoms to create a channel. Hilcorp did not have a permit to dredge the channel or discharge dredge material at the site, according to the suit…
